Search and rescue teams including sniffer dogs are on stand-by to enter a former hotel in Rhyl that was destroyed by fire last night.

A 45-year-old man is critically ill in hospital after he was found on the first floor with severe injuries and taken to safety through a fire exit and stairwell.

It is thought there may have been people squatting in the building at the time of the blaze.

Colin Hanks Assistant Chief Fire Officer said: "There was unreliable evidence there were further people in the building, it was not concrete. Due to the building's damage to was structurally unsafe and the decision was made to withdraw firefighters to a defensive position.

"The site is still structurally very unsafe and engineers are on the site, only when they give the all clear will the search and rescue team enter the site."

Eighty fire fighters and twelve fire appliances tackled the fire last night at the disused hotel on East Parade, Rhyl.

Crews were called to former Grange Hotel shortly after 9.45pm.

A firefighter from Prestatyn was also injured during the incident - he received superficial burns and has received treatment for his injuries at hospital.

Two appliances and an aerial ladder platform from Rhyl were first at the scene, followed closely by other appliances from Prestatyn, Abergele, Denbigh and Colwyn Bay, supported by the incident command unit.

In total 80 firefighters tackled the blaze and succeeded in bringing the fire under control.

A North Wales Fire Service spokeswoman said: "There was no danger of the fire spreading to neighbouring properties and the area was secured from traffic and pedestrians. Traffic is being diverted away from the East Parade area by police.

"Work to dampen down the fire continued throughout the night. The disused hotel, which was already boarded up and not in use, has received 100% fire damage and is structurally unsafe.

"The casualty was rescued from the rear of the building and early indications are that he was on the first floor.

"At this stage, due to the severity of the fire and the unsafe condition of the building, it cannot be confirmed whether there are any other people in the property. A joint investigation into the cause of the fire and a thorough search of the building is now being launched jointly by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police. The building will need to be made structurally safe before investigations can proceed."